Agenda

Women’s Fund Leadership Workshop
Dec. 6: The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) will offer a community workshop addressing strategic negotiation, leadership, and conflict. The workshop is based on the WFWM’s popular Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI), a 10-month training program that equips women to become more involved as civic leaders in their communities; impact policy on the local, state, and national levels, serve on boards; and seek and hold on to elected positions. Running from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Holyoke Community College, the workshop will address conflict from the starting point of understanding human behavior to the end goal of developing successful courses of action that will enhance leadership. This program will be led by Brenda and Debbie Oppermann. Brenda Oppermann is an advisor and senior program manager for several organizations, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the U.S Army, the Multi-national Corps – Iraq, International Security and Assistance Force – Afghanistan, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and assorted NGOs. Debbie Oppermann is an administrator and consultant specializing in program development, implementation, and management in the nonprofit and government sectors. The workshop is open to the public. Tickets start at $40 for small nonprofit professionals and students, while standard tickets are $60. Donations are also accepted above the $60 ticket price to help ensure the Women’s Fund is able to provide community workshops at discounted rates for small nonprofits and young professionals. Register online at www.womensfund.net or by contacting Julie Holt, office manager, at (413) 529-0087, ext. 10.

SSO ‘Home for the Follidays’ Concert
Dec. 6: More than 100 choral voices, an audience sing-along, and a chorus line of tap-dancing Santas — all that and more is on the slate for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Home for the Follidays” concert at Symphony Hall. Guest conductor Harvey Felder will lead members of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and renowned Jeans ‘n’ Classics vocalists Gavin Hope and Andrea Koziol in delivering a festive musical celebration with a hint of rock. The evening’s holiday performance will continue this year’s partnership with Jeans ‘n’ Classics, star performers in the arts and entertainment scene, who combine popular sounds with the power of a world-class symphony. The show will also feature the return of the SSO’s Tap Dancing Santas, under the direction of choreographer and dance instructor David Michael Bovat, plus special guest cantor Martin Levson from Sinai Temple in Springfield, as well as a visit from St. Nick himself. The evening will also feature the SSO’s 12th annual silent auction, a fund-raising event that benefits its educational and outreach programs. Auction items include spa packages, ski lift tickets, a getaway weekend, restaurant gift cards, and much more. Items will be available for browsing and bidding before the performance and during intermission, and winning bidders may claim their items immediately following the concert. The SSO will also continue its tradition of supporting Springfield’s Children’s Study Home with a toy drive. On concert night, audience members are encouraged to make the holidays a little happier for local families in need by bringing a donation of a new, unwrapped toy. Collection bins will be available on the lobby level at Symphony Hall. “Home for the Follidays” will begin at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. For group and individual tickets, call the Springfield Symphony Box Office at (413) 733-2291 or visit in person at 1350 Main St., Springfield. Tickets are also available online at tickets.springfieldsymphony.org.

Financial-education Event
Dec. 6: Monson Savings Bank will conduct a financial-education event for veterans, service members, and their families, in collaboration with Monson High School and the Veterans Task Force of the MassSaves Coalition. The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Monson High School at 55 Margaret St. in Monson. There will be workshops on budgeting, setting financial goals, dealing with debt, and repairing credit. Attendees may also speak one-on-one with financial coaches and get help pulling and reviewing credit reports. All of the speakers and coaches are approved by the Department of Defense. There will be a kids’ activities table, supervised by National Honor Society students, so that parents can bring their children and also take full advantage of the program. Refreshments will be served, and the event is free. Questions about the event can be directed to Carolyn Weeks, manager of MSB’s Monson branch, at (413) 9267-1215.

Difference Makers
March 19: The sixth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Details on the event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. The editors and publishers of BusinessWest will accept nominations for the class of 2015 through Dec. 15. The nomination form is available online at www.businesswest.com/difference-makers-nomination-form.